Card record and index.



No. 664,50I.

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J. H. RAND.

CARD RECORD AND INDEX.

(Application led July 14, 1900.) (NOM0del.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. 1

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JAMES H. RAND, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEV YORK.-

CARD RECORD AND INDEX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,501, dated December 25, 1900.

Application led July 14,1900.

To @ZZ wtont it. may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES H. RAND,acitizen of the United States, residing at North Tonawanda,in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and. useful Improvements in Card Records and Indexes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a card record and index designed to be used, for instance, in banks and mercantile establishments in place of the ordinary account and record books; and it has for its object to provide a compact and convenient device of this kind which simplifies the keeping of accounts and records and permits a ready reference to the same.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is a top plan viewof my improved device. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section thereof, showing the record or account cards in place in the pockets. Fig. 3 isa similar view with the cards removed. Fig. 4 is a verticalcrosssection of the device in line 44, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section in line-5 5, Fig. 3. Y

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures. p

A is a rectangular case or drawer which is open at its top and divided by transverse partitions B into a number of uprightpockets or compartments C. These pockets may extend from side to side of the case or the case may be divided by a central longitudinal partition D into two sets of pockets, as shown in Figs. l and 4. When two sets of pockets are employed, the partitions B preferably extend continuously from side to side of the case, and each partition is provided centrally with an upright notch h, which extends upwardly from the lower edge thereof and receives the longitudinal partition D.

The pockets C are adapted to receive a number of removable record or account cards E, upon each of which 'a separate or individual account or other record may he kept, the cards being suitably ruled for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4. Each card is provided at its upper edge with a projecting tab@ for withdrawing it from its pocket.

At the upper edge of each transverse partition B is arranged a transverse index Iiap Serial No. 23,657. (No model.)

or leaf F, which is preferably hinged or [iexiflap, one below another, although the namesY may be written directly upon the Hap, if desired. The tabs of the cards E seated in the same pocket are arranged out of line with one another, and each card has its tab located directly opposite or in line with that name of the index-f1ap which corresponds to the card. By this arrangement when it is desired to examine a certain card or make an entry thereon it is only necessary to refer to the name of that card on the index-Hap and then seize the tab in line with said name and withdraw the card. For example, should it be desired to make an entry on J. Amess account the accountant finds that name on the index-hap and withdraws the proper card from the pocket by seizing the tab directly opposite said name. This can be done more quickly than an account can be found in an ,ordinary index-record book or ledger, where it is necessary to refer first to the index for the page-number of the account and then turnto the proper page in the book. 'In re placing a withdrawn card it is not necessary to put the same in any particular place in its pocket; but it may be inserted at'random anywhere in the pocket, inasmuch as its tab will always stand in line with ythe corresponding name on the index-flap, whether the card be near or remote from the fiap.

In order to center the cards lengthwise in their pockets and insure an accurate register of their tabs with the corresponding names of vthe index-aps, the lower portions of the I pockets are constructed to fit the cards snugly lwhen fully inserted and their upper portions are flared, or, in other words, the upper portions of their end walls are constructed to converge downwardly, as shown in Fig. 4. By

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this construction the cards can be easily inserted in their pockets, and they are at the same time properly centeredtherein -in depressing them to the bottom of the pocket. The downwardly-converging ends of the pockets are preferablyl formed by upright guide or lling strips g g', having vertical lower portions which are separated from the. adjacent side walls, and the longitudinal partition D of the case A by blocks g2, secured to the backs of the strip, while their upper portions are inclined from the upper edge of the ease toward the upright lower portions of the strips. The lling-strips g, located at the outer ends of the pockets, are provided at their upper ends with hooks g3, which engage over the upper edges of the side walls of the case, while the opposing filling-strips g, located at the inner ends of the two sets of pockets, are preferably formed of a single piece of metal, which is doubled over the upper edge of the longitudinal partition D. These centering-strips and the transverse partitions B are arranged loosely in the case, so that they can be shifted or adjusted lengthwise of the ease for making the card-pockets wider or narrower, as may be desired. The last or rearmost partition is held in its proper upright position by an abutmentplate H, having a suitable brace h. The centeringstrips gg also serve to properly separate the loose partitions B.

A greater or less number of card-pockets C and corresponding index-flaps F may be eniployed, according to the requirements of the particular business in which the device is used. When two or more card-pockets and indexiiaps are employed, as shown in the drawings, the flaps overlap each other like the leaves of an open book, and they can be readily turned in one direction or the other for exposing the flap which bears the name or designation to Each flap bears the names belonging to a section of the alphabet, the first flap bearing naines which begin, say, with A and B, the second iiap those beginning with C and D, and so on, in an obvious manner.

The device not only saves considerable time in referring to the accounts or records, but it is also very compact, permitting a large number of accounts or records to be kept in a comparatively small compass. The case may be constructed in the form of a sliding drawer which is inclosed by a suitable cabinet, or it may be seated in an opening or recess in the top of a desk with the index-flaps flush with the top of the desk.

The device is especially desirable for savings-banks and other institutions or business houses having a large number of small accounts,and it may also be used as a signature.- index for banks.

When the record or account cards are iilled up, they are placed in a suitable le provided for the purpose and new cards are substituted therefor in the card record and index.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a card record and index, the combination with a case having a pocket or compartment, of a folding index flap or leaf arranged at the upper end of said pocket and attached to one of the walls thereof, and record or account cards arranged in said pocket and provided at their upper edges with tabs which correspond to the names or designations of said index-Hap, substantially as set forth.

2. In a card record and index, the combination with a case having two or more upright card-pockets, of horizontal index flaps orleaves arranged at the upper ends of said pockets and iiexibly attached to one of the side walls thereof, and record or account cards arranged in said pockets and provided at their upper edges with tabs which correspond to the names or designations of said indexflaps, substantially as set forth.

3. In a card record or index, the combination with a case having a pocket or compartment, of internal upright centering-st-rips located at the ends of said pocket and each having an inclined upper portion and a vertical lower portion arranged inwardly beyond said inclined portion, and record or account cards seated in said pockets against said centering-strips, substantially as set forth.

4. In a card record and index, the combination with a case having a pocket or compartment, of internal upright centering-strips located at the ends of said pocket and having their upper ends loosely-engaged with the end Walls-of the pocket, and each having an upper inclined portion and a lower vertical portion arranged inwardly beyond said inclined portion and provided with a backingblock which bears against the end wall of the pocket, and record or account cards seated in said pocket against said centering-strips, substantially as set forth. A

5. In a card record and index, the combination with a case and a number of transverse partitions arranged adjustably therein and forming upright card-pockets, of indexflaps flexibly connected to the upper edges of said partitions and adapted to overlap each other, and record or account cards arranged in said pockets, and each provided at its upper edge with a tab which is located in line with the corresponding name or designation of the adjacent index-flap, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 21st day of May, 1900.

JAMES H. RAND.

Witnesses: CARL F. GEYER, v CLAUDIA M. BENTLEY.

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